Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich suffered their first league defeat of the season, falling 2-1 to Mainz 05 on Saturday as South Korea’s Lee Jae-sung delivered a match-winning performance with goals on either side of halftime. The loss ended Bayern’s 13-game unbeaten run under head coach Vincent Kompany, who had made a historic start to his tenure in the Bundesliga.
Lee opened the scoring in the 41st minute, capitalizing on a costly defensive mistake by a sluggish Bayern side. The 32-year-old doubled Mainz’s lead in the 60th minute, showcasing his skill with a brilliant turn and finish following a sharp attacking move that left Bayern’s defense static. Mainz’s spirited display was too much for the visitors, who looked uncharacteristically disjointed throughout the match.
Kompany, reflecting on his first Bundesliga loss, acknowledged the energy and determination of the hosts. “We played against a team with a lot of life and spirit, and they were prepared to fight for every moment,” he said. “From our side, there was no lack of fight, but we weren’t at our best today.”
Bayern did manage to pull a goal back late on, with Leroy Sané finding the net in the 87th minute. However, it proved too little, too late, as Mainz held firm to secure all three points and climb to sixth in the table with 22 points. The Bavarians remain at the top with 33 points, maintaining a four-point lead over second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, who won 2-0 against Augsburg.
Kompany struck a defiant tone despite the setback. “This game is done; we can’t play it again. We’ll use it to fuel a fire for next week. We can’t win in Mainz this year anymore, but we’re already looking forward to the future.”
With the Bundesliga heading into a three-week winter break after the upcoming round of matches, Bayern will look to regroup and recapture their dominant form. For Mainz, this statement win could serve as a springboard for their push higher up the table.
